| Question | Answer |
| Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis | (FSGS) is a cause of nephrotic
young adults.
Causes
idiopathic
other renal pathology e.g. IgA nephropathy, reflux nephropathy
HIV
heroin
Alport's syndrome
sickle-cell
Investigations
renal biopsy
focal and segmental sclerosis and hyalinosis on light mi |
| Ultrasound diagnostic criteria (in patients with positive family history)
ADPKD | two cysts, unilateral or bilateral, if aged < 30 years
two cysts in both kidneys if aged 30-59 years
four cysts in both kidneys if aged > 60 years |
| Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis | epithelial crescents in the majority of glomeruli.
Causes
Goodpasture's syndrome
Wegener's granulomatosis
SLE, microscopic polyarteritis
Features
nephritic syndrome: haematuria with red cell casts, proteinuria, hypertension, oliguria
features specific |
| Normal anion gap ( = hyperchloraemic metabolic acidosis) | gastrointestinal bicarbonate loss: diarrhoea, ureterosigmoidostomy, fistula
renal tubular acidosis
drugs: e.g. acetazolamide
ammonium chloride injection
Addison's disease |
| criteria for diagnosing AKI | 1. Rise in creatinine of 26 micromol/L or more in 48 hours OR
2. >= 50% rise in creatinine over 7 days OR
3. Fall in urine output to less than 0.5ml/kg/hour for more than 6 hours in adults (8 hours in children) OR
4. >= 25% fall in eGFR in children / you |
| Refer to a nephrologist if any of the following apply: | 1. Renal tranplant
2. ITU patient with unknown cause of AKI
3. Vasculitis/ glomerulonephritis/ tubulointerstitial nephritis/ myeloma
4. AKI with no known cause
5. Inadequate response to treatment
6. Complications of AKI
7. Stage 3 AKI (see guideline for |
| IgA GN associated conditions | alcoholic cirrhosis
coeliac disease/dermatitis herpetiformis
Henoch-Schonlein purpura |
| markers of poor prognosis in IgA nephritis | : male gender, proteinuria (especially > 2 g/day), hypertension, smoking, hyperlipidaemia, ACE genotype DD |
| Causes of Polyuria | Common (>1 in 10)
diuretics, caffeine & alcohol
diabetes mellitus
lithium
heart failure
Infrequent (1 in 100)
hypercalcaemia
hyperthyroidism
Rare (1 in 1000)
chronic renal failure
primary polydipsia
hypokalaemia
Very rare (<1 in 10 000)
diabetes insipi |
| Nephrotic syndrome: complications | Complications
increased risk of infection due to urinary immunoglobulin loss
increased risk of thromboembolism related to loss of antithrombin III and plasminogen in the urine. This may result in a renal vein thrombosis, resulting in a sudden deteriorat |
| CMV in transplanted | CMV infection presents with a mononucleosis-like syndrome with fever, myalgia and arthralgia. There is often a leukopaenia, atypical lymphocytosis with a mild rise in transaminases and graft dysfunction.
Specific organ involvement can lead to hepatitis, |
| complications of AV fistula | infection
thrombosis
may be detected by the absence of a bruit
stenosis
may present with acute limb pain
steal syndrome |
| Causes of cranial DI | idiopathic
post head injury
pituitary surgery
craniopharyngiomas
histiocytosis X
DIDMOAD is the association of cranial Diabetes Insipidus, Diabetes Mellitus, Optic Atrophy and Deafness (also known as Wolfram's syndrome)
haemochromatosis |
| Rhabdomyolysis causes | seizure
collapse/coma (e.g. elderly patients collapses at home, found 8 hours later)
ecstasy
crush injury
McArdle's syndrome
drugs: statins (especially if co-prescribed with clarithromycin)
overexertion, compartment syndrome, drugs eg. statins, neurolepti |
| Rhabdomyolysis features | acute kidney injury with disproportionately raised creatinine
elevated creatine kinase (CK)
myoglobinuria
hypocalcaemia (myoglobin binds calcium)
elevated phosphate (released from myocytes)
hyperkalaemia (may develop before renal failure)
metabolic acido |
| Causes of nephrogenic DI | genetic: the more common form affects the vasopression (ADH) receptor, the less common form results from a mutation in the gene that encodes the aquaporin 2 channel
electrolytes: hypercalcaemia, hypokalaemia
drugs: demeclocycline, lithium
tubulo-intersti |
| Dialysis disequilibrium syndrome | results in cerebral oedema which can present as focal neurological deficits, papilloedema and a decreased level of consciousness. It can be treated with mannitol or hypertonic saline
likely to occur in patients with very high levels of urea, metabolic a |
| Amyloidosis: types | AL amyloidosis
the most common form of amyloidosis
L for immunoglobulin Light chain fragment
due to myeloma, Waldenstrom's, MGUS
features include: nephrotic syndrome, cardiac and neurological involvement, macroglossia, periorbital eccymoses
AA amyloid |
| ADPKD: features | Features
hypertension
recurrent UTIs
abdominal pain
renal stones
haematuria
chronic kidney disease
Extra-renal manifestations
liver cysts (70% - the commonest extra-renal manifestation): may cause hepatomegaly
berry aneurysms (8%): rupture can cause su |
| Testicukar Ca | The peak incidence for teratomas is 25 years and seminomas is 35 years. Risk factors include:
infertility (increases risk by a factor of 3)
cryptorchidism
family history
Klinefelter's syndrome
mumps orchitis |
| Acute interstitial nephritis causes | drugs: the most common cause, particularly antibiotics
penicillin
rifampicin
NSAIDs
allopurinol
furosemide
systemic disease: SLE, sarcoidosis, and Sjögren's syndrome
infection: Hanta virus , staphylococci |
| Factors which increase the likelihood of pulmonary haemorrhage in Goodpasture | smoking
lower respiratory tract infection
pulmonary oedema
inhalation of hydrocarbons
young males |
| Acute interstitial nephritis
Causee | drugs: cephalosporin, penicillin, clarithromycin, rifampicin, NSAIDs, allopurinol, furosemide
systemic disease: SLE, sarcoidosis, and Sjögren's syndrome
infection: Hanta virus , staphylococci, legionella, CMV, streptococcal) |
| Features Acute interstitial nephritis | fever, rash, arthralgia
eosinophilia in the urinalysis
mild renal impairment
hypertension |
| Treatment of Goodpasture's has three main principles: | Remove any identifiable cause of antibody production. Exposure to organic solvents, hydrocarbons, metal dust and smoking are known to increase the risk of developing the disease.
Stop further antibody production using immunosuppressive medication (cyclop |
| Plasmapheresis in Goodpasture's is indicated in the following: | .
anti-GBM disease in patients with pulmonary haemorrhage
those with renal involvement who do not require renal replacement therapy at presentation (the indication in this case)
selected patients who may require dialysis but present acutely, are young an |
| Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis
Causes | Goodpasture's syndrome
Wegener's granulomatosis
others: SLE, microscopic polyarteritis |
| ECG features hypokalamia | U waves
small or absent T waves
prolonged PR interval
ST depression |
| Risk factors of Nephrotoxicity due to contrast media | known renal impairment (especially diabetic nephropathy)
age > 70 years
dehydration
cardiac failure
the use of nephrotoxic drugs such as NSAIDs |
| Prevention of nephrotoxicity due to contrast media | the evidence base currently supports the use of intravenous 0.9% sodium chloride at a rate of 1 mL/kg/hour for 12 hours pre- and post- procedure. There is also evidence to support the use of isotonic sodium bicarbonate |
| Features of ADPKD | ADPKD: features
hypertension
recurrent UTIs
abdominal pain
renal stones
haematuria
chronic kidney disease |
| Extra-renal manifestations of ADPKD | liver cysts (70% - the commonest extra-renal manifestation): may cause hepatomegaly
berry aneurysms (8%): rupture can cause subarachnoid haemorrhage
cardiovascular system: mitral valve prolapse, mitral/tricuspid incompetence, aortic root dilation, aortic |
| Prevention of renal stones | Calcium stones may be due to hypercalciuria, which is found in up to 5-10% of the general population.
high fluid intake
low animal protein, low salt diet (a low calcium diet has not been shown to be superior to a normocalcaemic diet)
thiazides diuretic |
| what increases the risk of AKI: | 1. Emergency surgery, ie, risk of sepsis or hypovolaemia
2. Intraperitoneal surgery
3. CKD, ie if eGFR < 60
4. Diabetes
5. Heart failure
6. Age >65 years
7. Liver disease
8. Use of nephrotoxic drugs |
| It also defines the criteria for diagnosing AKI | 1. Rise in creatinine of 26 micromol/L or more in 48 hours OR
2. >= 50% rise in creatinine over 7 days OR
3. Fall in urine output to less than 0.5ml/kg/hour for more than 6 hours in adults (8 hours in children) OR
4. >= 25% fall in eGFR in children / you |
| Refer to a nephrologist if any of the following apply: | 1. Renal tranplant
2. ITU patient with unknown cause of AKI
3. Vasculitis/ glomerulonephritis/ tubulointerstitial nephritis/ myeloma
4. AKI with no known cause
5. Inadequate response to treatment
6. Complications of AKI
7. Stage 3 AKI (see guideline for |
| Haemolytic uraemic syndrome is generally seen in young children and produces a triad of: | acute kidney injury
microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia
thrombocytopenia |
| causes of secondary (termed 'typical HUS'): | classically Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) 0157:H7
pneumococcal infection
HIV
rare: systemic lupus erythematosus, drugs, cancer |
| sevelamer | a non-calcium based binder that is now increasingly used
binds to dietary phosphate and prevents its absorption
also appears to have other beneficial effects including reducing uric acid levels and improving the lipid profiles of patients with chronic ki |
| Features of renal cell carcinoma | classical triad: haematuria, loin pain, abdominal mass
pyrexia of unknown origin
left varicocele (due to occlusion of left testicular vein)
endocrine effects: may secrete erythropoietin (polycythaemia), parathyroid hormone (hypercalcaemia), renin, ACTH |
| Causes of Fanconi syndrome | cystinosis (most common cause in children)
Sjogren's syndrome
multiple myeloma
nephrotic syndrome
Wilson's disease |
| HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) | accounts for up to 10% of end-stage renal failure cases in the United State.
features of HIVAN:
massive proteinuria resulting in nephrotic syndrome
normal or large kidneys
focal segmental glomerulosclerosis with focal or global capillary collapse on rena |
| Renal cell cancer
Associations* | more common in middle-aged men
smoking
von Hippel-Lindau syndrome
tuberous sclerosis |
| is the commonest type of glomerulonephritis in adults and is the third most common cause of end-stage renal failure (ESRF). | Membranous glomerulonephritis |
| Complications of plasma exchange | hypocalcaemia: due to the presence of citrate used as an anticoagulant for the extracorporeal system
metabolic alkalosis
removal of systemic medications
coagulation factor depletion
immunoglobulin depletion |
| Indications for plasma exchange (also known as plasmapheresis) | Guillain-Barre syndrome
myasthenia gravis
Goodpasture's syndrome
ANCA positive vasculitis if rapidly progressive renal failure or pulmonary haemorrhage
TTP/HUS
cryoglobulinaemia
hyperviscosity syndrome e.g. secondary to myeloma |
| electron microscopy: subendothelial and mesangium immune deposits of electron-dense material resulting in a 'tram-track' appearance | mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis type 1 |
| electron microscopy: intramembranous immune complex deposits with 'dense deposits | mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis type 2 |
| Next question
Calciphylaxis
Calciphylaxis is a rare complication of end-stage renal failure.
Due to deposition of calcium within arterioles causing microvascular occlusion and necrosis of the supplied tissue.
The risk is linked to hypercalcaemia, h |
| renal biopsy
focal and segmental sclerosis and hyalinosis on light microscopy
effacement of foot processes on electron microscopy | FSGN |
| Retroperitoneal fibrosis
Associations | Lower back/flank pain is the most common presenting feature. Fever and lower limb oedema is also seen in some patients.
Associations
Riedel's thyroiditis
previous radiotherapy
sarcoidosis
inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm
drugs: methysergide |
| Renal papillary necrosis
Causes | Renal papillary necrosis
severe acute pyelonephritis
diabetic nephropathy
obstructive nephropathy
analgesic nephropathy
phenacetin was the classic cause but this has now been withdrawn
NSAIDs
sickle cell anaemia |
| GOLDMARK | The causes of a raised anion gap can be remembered using the mnemonic GOLDMARK: glycol (ethylene glycol), oxoproline, L-lactate, D-lactate, methanol, aspirin, renal failure, ketoacidosis. |
| Renal ultrasound is recommended by NICE guidance for patients with? | chronic kidney disease who have accelerated progression of chronic kidney disease, have persistent haematuria, have symptoms of urinary tract obstruction, have a family history of polycystic kidney disease (if older than 20 years), have a estimated GFR |
| is the volume of fluid filtered from the glomerular capillaries into the Bowman's capsule per unit time. GFR is a key measure of renal function in clinical practice |
| renal clearance | is the volume of plasma cleared of a substance per unit time |
| Management of Cystinuria | hydration
D-penicillamine
urinary alkalinization |
| Diagnosis of Cystinuria | cyanide-nitroprusside |